VIDEO: Shoppers boast of Boxing Day bargains

Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can

Waiting for Video...

Published:14:21Updated:16:48Friday 26 December 2014

Increasing numbers of people are giving up their traditional family Boxing Day to bag some of the many bargains in sales, according to one Belfast shopping centre.

Rebecca Henderson, Retail Liaison and Events Coordinator at Victoria Square, said the demand for sales on 26th December is increasing.

Donegall Place with shoppers on Boxing Day 2014

“Boxing Day has given us a record number of sales, up on last year looking at both number of transactions and footfall,” she told the News Letter. “It is significantly higher than last year.

“I think there are more people in town and more people coming in who are willing to spend money. Many of our stores are giving 50pc off.”

Some of her stores on Boxing Day opened at 8am with most others at 9am.

“Some stores had queues outside from before they even opened,” she added.

And it was not just Boxing Day that saw the centre’s retail business thrive.

“Christmas was very positive with footfall and sales also up significantly on last year. Footfall for the past week is up,” she said.

Belfast city centre was also packed with shoppers from around Northern Ireland as they descended in their masses to take advantage of Boxing Day sales.

People who spoke to the News Letter had come from as far afield as Hillsborough and Carryduff to get up to 75pc off coats, shoes and dresses.

There was little thought of sitting in front of the fire watching television instead. As one Belfast man told the News Letter, there are only “repeats” on anyway.

Peter Murray, manager of the Buttercrane Centre in Newry, also said the 2014 Boxing Day sales have been “very good”.

He added: “They have grown steadily in popularity over the past 15 years. We are really seeing the rise of the canny shopper who does their price-checking and reservations online before going to shop in person.”